Conditions of entry

Only Australian organisations and/or residents are eligible to enter. Subject matter is limited to non-fiction and creative non-fiction where history is primarily related to the State of Victoria, or projects that encourage greater access to Victorian collections.

Creators must not be State Government Departments or Agencies as defined in the Victorian Government Directory. Current Councillors and paid staff of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV) are ineligible. Creators are those groups or individuals responsible for researching, writing and producing the work, which may be separate from the role of the Publisher.

The official entry form must accompany each entry.

Hardcopy book entries must include three copies of the finished publication (not drafts or proofs). If submitting your book via the online portal, your application will not be valid until your copies have been physically received by RHSV. After judging, books will be added to the RHSV collection and used for review across RHSV publications.

Non-print entries must be provided in an accessible format ie. a DVD or USB if delivered, or if submitted online, a URL link which must remain accessible until December 31 2023. Judges will not be able to attend physical activities in person, so entries for exhibitions or tours should be accompanied by comprehensive supporting material such as programs, maps and photographs. Exhibition entries must include all text from exhibition panels and a video (phone is fine) of the space.

Entries must be original and the property of the entrant. Any publisher submitting on behalf of an author must have the consent of the author.

Entrants’ work must have been completed (ie. published, exhibited or launched) between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023.

Entries must be received by 5pm Friday 13 October 2023.

Entries will not be returned, and late entries won’t be accepted.

If you believe there may be a perceived conflict of interest, please attach further information for the judges to examine eligibility.

The judges may move entries to a category other than the one entered at their discretion.

Judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into or feedback provided.

Public Record Office Victoria and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria reserve the right to exhibit or publish, in whole or in part, any submissions to promote the Awards.